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Rutgers CB Nadir Barnwell suspended after being charged with DWI by campus police

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Rutgers true freshman cornerback Nadir Barnwell, unable to stop this touchdown pass to Houston's Demarcus Ayres in Saturday's 49-14 loss to the Cougars, was suspended for at least the upcoming Temple game by coach Kyle Flood after being charged with DUI early Sunday.
(Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)

Just when it seemed the news couldn't get any worse for Rutgers' depleted secondary it did, with true freshman Nadir Barnwell -- a cornerback starter the past four games -- suspended for at least this week's game against Temple after being charged early Sunday morning with driving while intoxicated and careless driving, according to a school official.

The official requested anonymity because coach Kyle Flood hasn't publicly acknowledged the reason for Barnwell's suspension, except to say it was for violating team rules.

Barnwell, 18, was charged in his hometown of Piscataway by Rutgers University Police early Sunday morning, the official said. He started in the team's 49-14 Homecoming loss to Houston at High Point Solutions Stadium.

No police report was immediately available.

Flood did not rule out extending the suspension to Barnwell beyond Saturday.

"My plans are for it to be for this week, but it's not finalized yet," Flood said.

The absence of Barnwell for Saturday -- against a rising quarterback star in Temple's P.J. Walker, an Elizabeth native -- puts further stress on a unit that has already lost starting cornerback Lew Toler to a season-ending broken arm and recently saw part-time starter Ian Thomas abruptly quit the team.

Rutgers (4-3 overall, 1-2 AAC) will be down to four corners for the Temple game: Gareef Glashen, true freshmen Anthony Cioffi and Delon Stephenson and redshirt freshman Jevon Tyree.

Flood said safety Tejay Johnson could also get some work at cornerback, where he originally started his career.

Rutgers allowed 400 passing yards in the loss to Houston and is now ranked 121st nationally out of 123 schools in pass defense. The Scarlet Knights are allowing 320.1 passing yards per game and have plummeted to No. 84 nationally in total defense after yielding a season-high 611 yards to Houston.